Scotland Has Surpassed Its Energy Needs With Wind Power

The country produced 106% of its daily requirement.

High winds in Scotland meant that wind power was able to over-provide energy for the first time on record, pumping 39,645 megawatt hours into the National Grid within 24 hours.

Environmental group WWF Scotland has confirmed that Sunday 7 August saw Scotland’s renewable energy source pump over the required 37,202 MWh needed to operate all homes and businesses.

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WWF Scotland Director Lang Banks, told the Associated Press: “While it’s not impossible that this has happened in the past, it’s certainly the first time since we began monitoring the data in 2015 that we’ve had all the relevant information to be able to confirm it.”

Having said that, last Sunday was not a typical summer’s day as high winds across Scotland forced bridges to be closed and ferries and trains to be delayed.

The Met Office issued a yellow ‘be aware’ warning as winds reached speeds of 115mph in the Cairngorms and up to 60mph in the north of the country.

Banks said: “While Sunday’s weather caused disruption for many people, it also proved to be a good day for wind power output, with wind turbines alone providing the equivalent of all Scotland’s total electricity needs.”

This is combined with the fact it was a Sunday, so businesses require less energy than during weekdays.

Back in February, WWF Scotland released data showing that January was a bumper month for wind turbines in Scotland; providing 1,125,544 MWh of electricity enough to supply, on average, the electrical needs of 123% of Scottish 2.98 million households.